The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-10
EFFECTS OF DROUTH.
SsVsnty-Fivs Thousand Square Nile, Of
Psrched Farms in the Northwest.
Leaves Falling From the Trees, the Grass
iD.the Meadows Yellow, and Streams
as Dry as Powder Horns,

CHICAGO, August S.-A local paper, sum-
ming up the many reports received by ii of
drouth, prairie fires, ruined CROPS etc.,
says this morning: There is an area of per-
haPs 10000 square miles in the Northwest
where the dust lies heavily upon the
earth The dristicts bounded by Madison
on the north, Bloomington on the south,
Lake Michigan on the east and the MiSsis.
s1ppi River on the west. It is within the
limits OF these boundaries that vegetation
has lost its normal color and the earth its
moisture. Day alter day the sun sends it's
burning rays upon the parched farms and
fields. Leaves are falling from the trees,
the grass in the meadows has grown yellow
and white. and the streams in which the
cattle used to Stake their thirst are as dry
as powder horns. 1t has been nearly ten
weeks since soaking rain fen in this dis
trict. The big bull thistle, the past of
nearly every farm, has at last succumbed
to the fate of all other vegetation. The
dig weed mist Nhtou, shen ,usne.I bia,s-
and finally fell upon the earth With not
enough moisture in the ground To feed 3
thistle, the condition of corn and the ten
der grass in ths meadows NAV be imsgiuei
In Southern Wisconsin there are thousands
of acres where corn will not yield peck to
the acre. The crop has been scorche1 and
almost totally destroyed. The leaves OF
the cereal are yellow and brittle, and
droops almost to the ground.
The loss OF the corn crop, serious as il is,
will not impoverish the farmers. They
lived in the country since the land was
first titled, and have for the most part,
laid by enough money to carry them
through a winter. But there are other
dangers to be confronted. Wells have run
dry and in sone towns water famines are
imminent. The drinking water ct hand is
polluted and hlled with poisonous germs.
Typhoid fever is becoming more prevalent
and dysentry ana other stomach disturb
ances are so common in some places as to
be almost epidemic. Unless rain falls be-
fore many days, the suffering will be
greatly augmented. The intense heat has
been terrific strain upon man, but its
effect upon cattle has been simply appall-
ing. Without pasturage to browse upon or
pools IN which to stand during the hot
hours of the day the poor beasts have be-
come so emaciated as TO be wholly unmar-
ketable. The farmers in the dairy districts
have in some instances been compelled to
feed and water their COWS from their own
larder. In other places forest trees have
been felled and dragged to the'pastures and
leaves. Hundreds of COWS are being
killed and shipped to market for
a mere pittance. at Winslow, ILL.,, one
farmer bought ten head of cattle last Janu-
airy at $50 per head. When he offered to
sell the entire herd last week for $l0o he
could not find a purchaser. Farmers in
this district have already turned their cat
tie loose to feed upon the crops. In some
places fences have been run through corn
fields and the starving cattle permitted to
feed upon the leaves and stalks. When
these have been eaten the fences are ex-
tended until the entire fields have been
eaten clean. Added to all the miseries at
tending the great drought is the constant
fear of fiPes. The tall grass of the prairIes
is dead, the fields are ready to burst into
flame and leaves lie in heaps in the forests.
A spark starts fire and the blistering Sa-
hara-like wind fans the fame into a confla-
grafton. Already the land encompassed
by the boundaries has been Dlackened by
wild fires. In some towns the people are
often called out three or four times a day
to fight the flames. Destructive fires have
been raging for many davs in Kenosha aud
WalwoTth Counties in Wisconsin. Thou
sands of acres have been swept by the
flames, and the loss to farmers in hay,
grain, 5enciDg and buildings 10 very great.
Above Madison the Dogs are burning
fercely and the pungent smoke hangs over
the co2ntTy for miles around.